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Japanese retailer names underperforming games of 2009
Japanese retail blogger Oosaka King has compiled a list of what he believes are the games that did worst for stores in 2009. These aren't just poor sellers, they're also games with low margins or other problems that kept retailers from profiting. Topping the list: Blood of Bahamut, a DS RPG released by Square Enix on August 6, just a few weeks after Dragon Quest IX. No mystery why that one didn't sell! Monster Hunter Tri, which may be more surprising, was the blogger's number two choice, due to low margins on the standard edition, as well as some unspecified shipping issues from Capcom. The full list of what one retailer believes was unprofitable in 2009 is after the break. It features a few more big names, like Sonic, Mario, and Gran Turismo. The preponderance of major games is probably due to the fact that retailers stocked way more of the big games, expecting more sales, and stocked presumably niche titles more judiciously. [Via Andriasang]
Blood of Bahamut gets dated for Japan
Square Enix news continues in full force today with word (via Kotaku) that Blood of Bahamut has been given a release date for Japan. The Nintendo DS title is expected to ship on August 6. Blood of Bahamut is a four-player action RPG set in a city constructed on the back of a giant creature, cleverly named Gigant. Characters are presented in 2D, battling it out in a 3D environment. One of the game's many directors is future Square Enix legend Motomu Toriyama, whose previous work includes planning for Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII, as well as event directing for Final Fantasy X. Also, while the game is looking better every time we see it, it still pales in comparison to the incredibly rad artwork Square Enix is using to promote the game. Or as we like to call it, "Future wall scroll." %Gallery-36800%
Watch the Blood of Bahamut trailer from Jump Festa
Jump Festa is currently going down in Japan, which means those of us who don't live there have to watch trailers for these games on the internet. The above trailer for Blood of Bahamut is full of concept art for the game, but sprinkled throughout you'll find various snippets of gameplay. So feast your eyes on the footage above this block of text.%Gallery-36800%
Glut of Bahamut
We just saw brand new screens from Square Enix's exciting new game, Blood of Bahamut, and now we have ... even more screens! The latest batch offers up a few more looks at an Ifrit's face (tip: it's angry), as well as peeks at the menu and combat. If we have to say they look good, then you haven't been paying attention. They look amazing. Now we need a couple of very-long trailers -- with lots of in-game footage -- to cement our desire. We have spoken, Square Enix. Make it happen, because what we've seen isn't enough. Gallery: Blood of Bahamut
The creatures of Blood of Bahamut
The official Blood of Bahamut site has updated with another character profile, this time covering one of the game's giants, a horned, fire-breathing colossus known as an Ifrit. Ifrits will join Gigants in (a) being very big and (b) looking totally badass.As with other creatures in Blood of Bahamut, you'll have to break down an Ifrit's armor, and then locate and attack the weak point. You may even find a friend or two on the backs of these monsters (remember you also reside on the back of a Gigant): friends such as Kamo, who wields a meaty axe. Random, non-essential trivia: Ifrits have appeared in other games before, including the first Devil May Cry, and even Sonic and The Secret Rings! Most famously of all, they make appearances in the Final Fantasy series.But enough of our factoids: hit up the gallery for nine new shots! They be stunning.%Gallery-36800%[Via Siliconera]
DS Daily: New Square Enix vs. old Square Enix
Square Enix has been all over the DS, with remakes, franchise continuations, spin-offs, and more. Perhaps even more amazingly, however, is that the DS isn't just getting the same ol' series, but new games, too. Some are totally new, while others are newish, yet have connection to some of the company's other properties. If you're a fan of their work, you've probably played a lot of DS in the past few years. But what's been more exciting to you: the newer things, like The World Ends With You and the recently-announced Blood of Bahamut, or the oldest of the old, like the remakes (Final Fantasy IV, Chrono Trigger, more)?
Blood of Bahamut looks better every time we see it
We got our first taste of Blood of Bahamut a few weeks back and we definitely enjoyed what we saw. Thankfully, the latest issue of Famitsu has a nice two-page spread on the game, giving us more to drool over. We'd like to present any of the info that is in these scans, but, for some reason, it's all in Chinese. Seeing as how this is Famitsu magazine, you can understand why it's weird.Regardless, the scans are chock full of delicious eye candy. So let your eyeballs soak it all in here.%Gallery-36800%
DS Daily: Let's talk Blood of Bahamut
Yesterday, we were all blessed with first images and video of the upcoming Square Enix DS game, Blood of Bahamut. Naturally, we're totally psyched for the game and liked what we saw yesterday. Of course, everyone might not feel the same, so toss your two cents in here. Do you think Blood of Bahamut looks like a good time, or are you not interested at all? What has got you so pumped for the game? What has turned you off about it? Opinions, please!
First screens and video from Blood of Bahamut
After that glorious concept art revealed for Blood of Bahamut, we've been hungry for more of Square Enix's latest, and since the website has updated, we're happy as pigs in piggy poop. Not only do we have the first two non-scanned shots of the game in our gallery below, and the first trailer after the break, but the official website has more action shots, as well as a beautiful downloadable wallpaper that features the aforementioned concept art. If Square Enix is trying to whip us into a froth for this one, well, it's working. Not that they have to do much to get us going. %Gallery-36800%
Blood of Bahamut DS debut trailer
Not sure what to think about Square Enix's newly unveiled DS title Blood of Bahamut? Well, we're pretty sure the Japanese debut trailer isn't going to provide much in the way of answers. What you will get: snippets of dual-screen gameplay showing off massive enemies that are highly reminiscent of Shadow of the Colossus' lumbering giants ... except with laser eyes. You can size up the trailer after the break.[Thanks, Kamizar]
Shonen Jump spills Blood of Bahamut details
Square Enix launched one of its beloved countdown sites recently, but was beaten to its own reveal by Shonen Jump magazine. The mystery game, as seen in this blurry screenshot, is Blood of Bahamut, an action RPG with four-player local co-op play and 2D sprites on 3D backgrounds. Oh, and it looks a bit like Shadow of the Colossus, though that's more of an observation than a criticism. We're not going to sling mud at any game that is inspired by Shadow of the Colossus, because Shadow of the Colossus is freakin' brilliant.Anyhow, Shadow, sorry, Blood of Bahamut will feature two protagonists, Ibuki and Yui, who live in a city constructed on the back of a giant. On paper, that sounds great -- they'd get lovely views and lots of fresh air, for example -- but their giant keeps getting attacked by other hefty enemies, who they have to ward off. And to think the agent said such good things about the neighbors.Ruliweb has the full scans, but we also recommend feasting your eyes on this exceptional concept art.[Via Final Fantasy Union; Thanks, Darryl!]
Square Enix donating 'Blood of Bahamut' to DS
How certain are we that Square Enix's current, cryptic countdown will lead to the unveiling of a new RPG? Oh, positive. The latest issue of Japanese mag Shonen Jump (via Gamekyo) has the scoop on Blood of Bahamut, a new DS game that tasks up to four local players with defending their architecturally weird city from attack. Note to prospective city planners: Erecting buildings on the back of a gigantic creature, while aesthetically impressive, generally gives rise to more serious problems. You definitely don't want to be around when your foundation decides to get an aggressive massage.Expect to hear more on the game, including the possibility of US release, sometime after the aforementioned countdown reaches zero.[Thanks, Ferny]
Square Enix countdown teases Bahamut
"But Joystiq, are you sure 'Bahamut' is the name of the project?" Well, no, little one, we're not. It's just a word that's in the URL of the site. But the Square Enix logo is there too, so we think it might be a game."Joystiq, do you know what it's counting down to?" ... Umm, well, no, we don't know, per se. We hope it's an announcement or something. "So, Joystiq, is there anything you actually do know?" Well, yes, in fact. We know that the picture's really cool."So, just to double check, Joystiq, you're taking up our time linking to a cool picture and a clock?"... Hmm, yeah. It seems that way. Sorry, we won't let it happen again.[Update: See? The game is "Blood of Bahamut."]
